Media Relations Lead

SLAC Job Postings

Position Overview:

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's Office of Strategic Communications & External Affairs (SC&EA) is seeking an experienced Media Relations Lead to join the External Communications team. Reporting to the Head of External Communications, the Media Relations Lead will manage engagement with national and international media to enhance and protect the reputation of the laboratory and ensure consistency with legal and contractual requirements. This position supports an integrated external communications strategy centered around delivering key messages in effective and impactful ways to a broad range of stakeholders, including news media, internal and public audiences and policymakers.

The successful candidate will be a goal- and detail-oriented media relations professional with a thorough understanding of the media landscape (ideally in the area of science and technology), a proven ability to build and leverage meaningful relationships with representatives of the media, a deep knowledge of media relations best practices, and an exceptional awareness of potential institutional and reputational risks.

The Media Relations Lead will evaluate media inquiries carefully and respond in ways that comply with guidelines established by the Department of Energy. The Media Relations Lead will promote SLAC's initiatives, research and people by writing, editing and distributing impactful press releases, crafting compelling media pitches, and organizing media events at SLAC. The Media Relations Lead will provide media training to SLAC staff and demonstrate critical leadership in dealing with sensitive media issues and crisis communications.

Collaborating with the entire SC&EA team and with a broad range of stakeholders within and outside of SLAC, the Media Relations Lead will drive and evolve a proactive media relations program for the laboratory that emphasizes targeted media outreach to support a strategic focus on SLAC's mission, research and people. The Media Relations Lead will closely collaborate with the News Center Editor and Social Media Lead within External Communications to ensure strategic messages align across external communication channels to maximize the visibility, impact and reach of our key messages.

Your specific responsibilities include:

• Lead and develop media relations deliverables in support of the media relations strategy, including evaluation and response to media inquiries, management of SLAC's press release process, sending pitches to journalists, planning and hosting media events, monitoring the media landscape, and supporting crisis communications.
• Oversee, develop and design complex, high-impact, high-visibility communications for distribution to the media and other important stakeholders, including press kits, media coverage reports and external newsletters.
• Support the development and implementation of strategic long- and short-term communication plans aligned with the media relations strategy, which includes building strong relationships with SLAC subject matter experts and members of the media.
• Act as primary SC&EA contact for SLAC's contracts with media relations platforms and explore new tools that enhance how we distribute content to the press, build relationships with the media and how we measure the impact of media outreach.
• Remain at the forefront of current industry standards, trends and technology through continuous learning and ongoing networking.
• May oversee or supervise staff in the development and implementation of the media relations strategy.
• Work in collaboration with institutional communicators within and outside of SLAC on media relations content and other areas.
• Other duties may also be assigned.

To be successful in this position you will bring:

• Bachelor's degree and eight years of relevant experience or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated skill in managing media relations for an organization.
• Experience with outreach to national and international media and with planning and hosting media events. Deep knowledge of the media landscape, best practices and trends.
• Outstanding institutional savviness and reputational awareness.
• Experience with emergency and crisis communications.
• Strong organizational skills and an exceptional sense of responsibility regarding compliance with processes, policies, legal and other requirements associated with media relations.
• Demonstrated ability to turn complex materials into clear messages and compelling media pitches. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Demonstrated high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills. Experience with building rapport with journalists, producers and other representatives of the media.
• Strong strategic outlook and ability to provide leadership in developing and executing short- and long-term media relations plans.
• Familiarity with media relations tools, metrics analysis and other means of monitoring, analyzing and boosting impact through media relations.
• Demonstrated ability and desire to work collaboratively with diverse teams to pursue and accomplish common goals.

In addition, preferred requirements include:

• Experience working in a scientific or technical environment and ability to accurately communicate complex science and technology information.

SLAC Employee Competencies :

• Effective Decisions: Uses job knowledge and solid judgment to make quality decisions in a timely manner.
• Self-Development: Pursues a variety of venues and opportunities to continue learning and developing.
• Dependability: Can be counted on to deliver results with a sense of personal responsibility for expected outcomes.
• Initiative: Pursues work and interactions proactively with optimism, positive energy, and motivation to move things forward.
• Adaptability: Flexes as needed when change occurs, maintains an open outlook while adjusting and accommodating changes.
• Communication: Ensures effective information flow to various audiences and creates and delivers clear, appropriate written, spoken, presented messages.
• Relationships: Builds relationships to foster trust, team collaboration, and a positive climate to achieve common goals.

Physical requirements and working conditions:

• Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Given the nature of this position, SLAC is open to on-site and hybrid work options.

Work Standards:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for environment, safety and security; communicates related concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned. Meets the applicable roles and responsibilities as described in the ESH Manual, Chapter 1's General Policy and Responsibilities:
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide,
• As a national laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives

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• Classification Title: Unit/Program Communicator 4
• Job Code: 4218 Grade: K
• Employment Duration: Regular Continuing

The expected pay range for this position is $149,401 - $173,075 per annum.

SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory/Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the university reasonably expects to pay for a position upon hire. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location, and external market pay for comparable jobs. At SLAC/Stanford, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package.